Chapter 18.16
SPECIFIC SIGN REGULATIONS
Sections:
18.16.020 Apartment houses and roominghouses.
18.16.030 Community directional signs.
18.16.040 For sale, lease and contractor identification signs.
18.16.060 Neighborhood association signs.
18.16.080 Price signs for automobile service stations.
18.16.110 Signs for subdivisions and apartment buildings.
18.16.130 Under-marquee signs.
18.16.140 Temporary noncommercial right-of-way signs.
18.16.010 A-board signs.
The A-board sign shall be no taller than 45 inches and no wider than 30 inches. The frame shall be of dark wood. Each business at street level will be allowed only one A-board sign. The area of the sign shall not be included within the allowable sign area permitted the business on-site. The sign will only be displayed in front of the business it is advertising. After January 1, 1980, the existing A-board signs must be discontinued in use, and no new A-board signs will be permitted to be erected thereafter. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-912).
18.16.020 Apartment houses and roominghouses.
A. The allowable display area for a sign for the identification of an apartment house is computed on the basis of one-half square foot for each dwelling unit.
B. The allowable display area for a sign for the identification of a roominghouse is computed on the basis of one-half square foot for each rentable room.
C. In each case, the maximum display area is 32 square feet. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-923).
18.16.030 Community directional signs.
A community directional sign is subject to the following limitations:
A. A community facility may be approved by the city planner;
B. Each sign may not exceed three square feet in area. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-926).
18.16.040 For sale, lease and contractor identification signs.
A. A person may, without application for a sign permit, erect one sign on a taxable unit of property for the purpose of advertising construction work on the premises, or of offering the property for sale or lease. The display area of this sign may not exceed the following limitations:
1. In a land use district designated single-family, four square feet;
2. In any other land use district, 12 square feet per acre of land, not to exceed 40 square feet.
B. The sign shall be removed within 10 days after the sale, lease, or the completion of construction. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-921).
18.16.050 Freestanding signs.
A. A freestanding sign must meet the design guidelines prescribed in BMC 18.12.010. In addition, the city planner and/or the planning commission may impose reasonable conditions regulating such things as the facing area, duration of the sign, color, structure, material, location and landscaping.
B. A freestanding sign is permitted upon a premises only when the city planner finds that:
1. A freestanding sign is the most feasible means by which the business conducted on the premises can have the same degree of identification to the traveling and shopping public as that available to businesses on neighboring premises without freestanding signs; and
2. The freestanding sign will not give the business on the premises a greater identification to the public than that available to businesses on neighboring premises without freestanding signs, and will not result in an unfair advantage over competitors; and
3. A freestanding sign, if granted, would not adversely affect the preservation of property values in the vicinity;
4. No part of a freestanding sign may extend over 20 feet above the normal contour of the land or surrounding terrain of the business it serves. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code §§ 8-908, 8-909).
18.16.060 Neighborhood association signs.
A. A sign for neighborhood identification is subject to approval by the city planner as to location, size, height, lighting and design. The sign shall be for the sole purpose of identifying the area and may not advertise a dwelling for sale or lease.
B. The city planner shall see that the neighborhood identification signs harmonize with their surroundings. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-925).
18.16.070 Open house signs.
In addition to the signs authorized by BMC 18.16.040, a person may, without application for a sign permit, erect a nonaccessory or accessory sign, or both, which advertises real estate for sale and open for inspection. The sign may not exceed four square feet in area. Not more than three open house signs may be used in connection with one taxable unit of property unless approved by the planning commission. The sign may state the name of the selling agent or broker and that the property is open for inspection. The open house sign is permitted only during the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-922).
18.16.080 Price signs for automobile service stations.
On premises where gasoline is dispensed to motor vehicles, a display of a price sign which may be read from a public street is encouraged. In addition to the authorizations and limitations contained elsewhere in this chapter, premises on which gasoline is sold from pumps may have a single sign displaying the prices of such gasoline. The price sign shall not be attached to or mounted on the principal building on the premises, or an under-marquee sign suspended from a canopy. No part of an under-marquee sign, not attached, used as a price sign shall be closer than 20 feet to any street line or official street setback line, if one exists. The price sign shall not exceed eight square feet in size and shall be subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-910).
18.16.090 Service club signs.
A sign for identification of a service club is subject to approval by the city planner as to location, size, height, width, lighting and general design. This section does not apply to a membership sign displayed by members of a service club. (Ord. 77-21 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-924).
18.16.100 Shingle signs.
A. Policy. In general, all forms of projecting signs are discouraged and most are prohibited. However, there is a narrow class of projecting graphic signs, called the shingle sign, which is deemed to be a desirable balance of sign function and high aesthetic standards.
B. Criteria. The use of painted wood or material closely simulating painted wood is preferred for shingle signs. Graphic representation in gold or silver shall be stressed. Letters may be used only to announce the name of the business conducted and the principal classification and brand of goods sold or service offered on the premises.
C. Limitations. A shingle sign is subject to the following limitations:
1. It may not be attached to a structure other than a building;
2. It may not project more than 30 inches from the surface of the building to which it is attached;
3. It may not contain more than a total of five square feet of display area, excluding the supporting structure;
4. It may be only as high as the eave line of the building surface to which it is attached or 11 feet above grade, whichever is lower;
5. It may not be lower than seven and one-half feet;
6. It may not be internally illuminated;
7. It may not be more than four inches or less than one-half inch thick, except as reasonably required in connection with some graphic element of the sign;
8. The total wall sign display area otherwise permitted shall be reduced by the display area, excluding the supporting structure, of the shingle sign approved;
9. Only one shingle sign may be approved for installation on a single frontage of a premises;
10. No shingle sign may be approved for a premises for which a freestanding sign permit is outstanding.
D. Required Findings. An application for a shingle sign may not be approved except upon the following written findings;
1. The sign is reasonably required for and assists in the identification of the premises by persons in motor vehicles or by pedestrians approaching along public streets or open spaces; and
2. The sign will have no garish or obtrusive qualities, and embodies strong elements of quality graphic design; and
3. Neither the supporting structure nor the proposed external lighting will materially detract from the design qualities of the sign or building; and
4. The sign will comply with the specific criteria of subsection (B) of this section and the limitations of subsection (C) of this section. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-911).
18.16.110 Signs for subdivisions and apartment buildings.
A. A person offering apartments for lease or real estate sale in a recorded subdivision may erect and maintain not more than two temporary signs identifying the subdivision or apartment building.
B. The total maximum display area for each sign is 32 square feet. The sign may not be located within 100 feet of an occupied residence, unless the planning commission finds that the maintenance of such distance is not feasible. The sign may not be illuminated.
C. In those cases where, due to location or size, there is a need of directional signs within the city leading to the subject site, the number, subject matter, design and size of the signs may be approved by the city planner.
D. In addition to all other terms and conditions which the city planner or the planning commission may impose, a person proposing to erect a subdivision sign shall enter into an agreement with the city providing for the following:
1. A deposit, to be determined by the city manager, for each sign guaranteeing maintenance and removal of the sign upon expiration of the permit;
2. Removal of the sign within one year from the date erected, except that the permit may be renewed for additional periods not exceeding one year in the discretion of the planning commission;
3. Permission to the city to remove and dispose of the sign should the sign not be removed by the subdivider; and a covenant to reimburse the city its cost of such removal and disposal if such costs exceed the amount of deposit.
E. A permanent decorative sign, giving the name of an apartment, development, subdivision or any other development, may receive approval at the same time as the planning commission grants architectural, site plan and landscaping approval of the development. If the development does not fall under the review, the community development director may grant the approval. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-920).
18.16.120 Temporary signs.
A. In addition to other signs permitted by this chapter, a business which sells goods or services to consumers may install and maintain temporary signs on a window of the premises for the purpose of advertising a bona fide special sale or promotion on the premises, subject to the following conditions:
1. No more than 50 percent of the total window space on a wall may be covered by temporary window signs; and
2. Each temporary window sign shall be removed when the sale or promotion advertised ends, or within 30 days following its installation, whichever is sooner; and
3. No sign permit is required in subsections (A)(1) and (2) of this section.
B. Notwithstanding BMC 18.24.020, temporary signs including those involving the use of banners, flyers, pennants, pinwheels, or utilizing two or more light bulbs in a wire string are permitted to advertise or promote a special or seasonal event. However, each such temporary sign shall be removed when the special event ends or within 45 days following installation, whichever is sooner. A sign permit is not required for such temporary signs. Temporary signs allowed in this section may only be used twice a year by any individual business. One period of use may be 30 days and the other period of use may be 45 days, but in no case shall the temporary signs be used more than 75 days in any one year. Seasonal decoration of windows is exempted. (Ord. 77-12 § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-916).
18.16.130 Under-marquee signs.
Only one under-marquee sign which is no more than three square feet in area is permitted per customer entrance for a retail store. The sign is not included in the computation of the maximum permissible display surface for the premises. (Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977; prior code § 8-917).
18.16.140 Temporary noncommercial right-of-way signs.
Temporary noncommercial right-of-way signs may only be located in the public right-of-way or public property in the designated areas on city property as approved in the location on file with the city clerk’s office for a period beginning the Saturday of Labor Day weekend for a general election, and 60 days before any other national, state, or local election in which city electors may vote up through the date of the election. Any such signs shall not exceed four feet in height with a maximum of 32 square feet per unit. All signs must be removed within seven days after the election period. (Ord. 22-04 § 3).